Vacuum Attachment for Removing Plumbing Stoppages

ABSTRACT

A vacuum attachment including an attachment first end, an attachment second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said the attachment end and the attachment second end; a hollow tube having an open tube first end and an open tube second end, the tube first end intersecting with the attachment first end, and the tube second end having a tube outer diameter, and a cup attached to the hollow tube, the cup defining a chamber and having an open cup first end and an open cup second end, the first end having an inner diameter larger than the tube outer diameter, and the cup further having an annular surface.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to plumbing. More specifically, the invention relates to a novel tool for releasing stoppages in plumbing.

2. Description of the Related Art.

In plumbing, one common technique for release stoppages is forcing the stoppage further down the drain by forcing water against the stoppage using a plunger. A typical plunger consists of a rubber cup attached to a stick or shaft. The plunger cup is pushed down hard against the drain opening to force water into the drain or pushed down until the cup is flattened and then pulled out to cause a vacuum that attracts material. The intent is to loosen or break up the stoppage. Using a plunger, however, may not always be effective and a plumber may need to be hired to release the stoppage using professional tools.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is a vacuum attachment for releasing more difficult stoppages without the need for hiring a plumber. The attachment comprises an attachment first end, an attachment second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said first end and said second end; a hollow tube having an open tube first end and an open tube second end, the tube first end intersecting with the attachment first end, and the tube second end having a tube outer diameter; and a cup attached to the hollow tube, the cup defining a chamber and having an open cup first end and an open cup second end, the first end having an inner diameter larger than the tube outer diameter, the cup further having an annular surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the first embodiment through line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment attached to a vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment in use with a toilet drain.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in use with a sink drain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment 20 of the invention, which has a first end 22 and a second end 24. A longitudinal axis 26 passes through the embodiment 20 from the first end 22 to the second end 24 without intersecting any structure of the embodiment 20.

The embodiment 20 includes a hollow, cylindrical tube 30 made of plastic. The tube 30 has a first end 32, a second end 34, and a cylindrical axis that intersects and is collinear with the longitudinal axis 26. The first end 32 intersects with the first end 22 of the embodiment 20. The tube 30 has a cylindrical outer sidewall 36 of a uniform outer diameter.

The embodiment 20 also includes a rubber cup 38 that has a first end 40 and a second end 42. The cup 38 is attached to the tube 30 proximal to the tube second end 34. The second end 42 of the cup 38 is intersects with the second end 24 of the embodiment 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cup 38 defines a generally hemispherical chamber 39. The first end 40 and second end 42 of the cup 38 are open. The first end 40 terminates with an annular collar 41 that includes first annular surface 44 with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tube sidewall 36. The collar 41 further includes a cylindrical wall 46 adjacent to the annular surface 44 that has an axis co-linear with the longitudinal axis 26. The cup 38 is attached to the tube 30 with an interference fit between the cylindrical wall 46 and the tube sidewall 36. The second end 42 terminates in a second annular surface 48 that defines an opening into the chamber 39. The cup 38 has an annular surface 50 longitudinally between the second annular surface 48 and the first annular surface 44. A cylindrical wall 52 is adjacent to the second annular surface 48. A curved wall 55 is adjacent to the annular surface 50 and the cylindrical wall 52. Together the annular surface 50 and the curved wall 55 define a tubular portion 53 of the cup 38 longitudinally between the annular surface 50 and the second end 42.

While in this embodiment the cup 38 is attached to the tube 30 with an interference fit, alternative embodiments may use other means of attachment. For example, the cup 38 may be attached using a bonding/sealing agent that augments (or replaces) the interference fit while also providing a seal that inhibits flow of debris out of the embodiment 20 between the cup 38 and the tube 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, the embodiment 20 may be attached to a wet or wet/dry vacuum cleaner 60, which are designed to accommodate wet or both wet and dry debris. The vacuum cleaner 60 includes a hose 62 with one end 64 connected to a drum 66 and a second end 68 that may be attached to the first end 22 of the embodiment 20 to establish an uninterrupted debris flowpath between the second end 24 of the embodiment 20 and the drum 66.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment 20 in use with the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 3 to release a stoppage in the drain of a toilet 70. The toilet 70 has a bowl 72 that includes a bowl surface 74 defining a drain opening 76. The embodiment 20 is placed in the bowl 72 so that the tube section 53 of the cup 38 extends partially through the drain opening 76 and the annular surface 50 contacts the bowl surface 74 around the drain opening 76 to form a seal. This establishes a debris flow path from the drain to the first end 22 of the embodiment 20, and thus to the hose end 68 and drum of the vacuum cleaner (not shown). By activating the vacuum with the embodiment 20 in this position, debris flows through the embodiment 20 and ultimately into the drum.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment 80 of the invention and uses the same reference numbers to identify identical elements. This embodiment 80 may be made by “folding” the cylindrical wall 52 and curved wall 55 of the first embodiment into the chamber 39. The second annular surface 48 is longitudinally between the first end 40 of the cup 38 and the annular surface 50, and the second end 24 of embodiment 80 intersects with with the annular surface 50.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment in use with the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 3 to release a stoppage in a sink drain. The sink has a bowl 88 with a bowl surface 90 that defines a drain opening 92. A drain pipe 93 is connected to the drain opening 92. The embodiment 80 is placed in the bowl 88 so that the annular surface 80 is in complete contact with the bowl surface 90 around the opening 92 to form a seal. This establishes a debris flow path from the drain to the first end 22 of the embodiment 80, and thus to the hose end and drum of the vacuum cleaner (not shown). By activating the vacuum with the embodiment 80 in this position, debris flows through the embodiment 80 and ultimately into the drum of the vacuum cleaner.

The present invention is described in terms of specifically-described embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other embodiments of such a method can be used in carrying out the present invention. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention may be obtained from a study of this disclosure and the drawings, along with the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A vacuum attachment for releasing a drain stoppage, the attachment comprising: an attachment first end, an attachment second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said first end and said second end; a hollow tube having an open tube first end, an open tube second end, and an outer sidewall, the tube first end intersecting with the attachment first end, and the tube second end having a tube outer diameter; and a cup attached to the hollow tube, the cup defining a chamber and having an open cup first end and an open cup second end, the first end having an inner diameter larger than the tube outer diameter, the cup further having an annular surface.
 2. The vacuum attachment of claim 1 further comprising: an annular surface intersecting with the cup second end; and a cylindrical wall longitudinally between said annular surface and the annular surface.
 3. The vacuum attachment of claim 2 wherein the cylindrical wall and annular surface are within the chamber.
 4. The vacuum attachment of claim 2 wherein the annular surface is longitudinally between the annular surface and the tube second end.
 5. The vacuum attachment of claim 4 wherein the annular surface intersects with the attachment second end.
 6. The vacuum attachment of claim 2 wherein the annular surface intersects with the attachment second end.
 7. The vacuum attachment of claim 2 wherein the cup further comprises a second surface longitudinally between the cup first end and the annular surface, the surface contacting the tube outer sidewall. 